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Stockholm Marathon facts for kids

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For the film, see Stockholm Marathon (film).
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Stockholm Marathon
Stockholm Marathon.jpg
Runners in the 2008 race
Date June
Location Stockholm, Sweden
Event type road
Distance Marathon
Primary sponsor adidas
Established 1979
Course records Men's: 2:10:10 (2019)
Ethiopia Nigussie Sahlesilassie
Women's: 2:28:24 (1988)
Norway Grete Waitz
Participants 6,958 finishers (2021)
12,349 (2019)

The Stockholm Marathon, also known as the adidas Stockholm Marathon because of its sponsor, is a big running race held every year in Stockholm, Sweden. It has been happening since 1979. This race is also where the Swedish marathon championship takes place, meaning it decides the best marathon runners in Sweden.

More than 18,500 people signed up for the 2009 Stockholm Marathon. This included over 14,000 men and over 4,000 women! The race is recognized by World Athletics as a "Bronze Label Road Race," which means it's a high-quality event.

The Race Route

Stockholm Marathon karta 2011
The race route from 2010 onwards
Near the Royal Palace in 2008
On the bridge Djurgårdsbron in 2007

The Stockholm Marathon begins right next to the Olympic Stadium, which was built for the 1912 Olympic Games. Runners complete two loops around the city. The race finishes with a three-quarter lap inside the Olympic Stadium itself.

Before 2010, the two loops were almost the same. But starting in 2010, the route was changed. Now, the two loops are more different from each other. The first loop is shorter. This change helps the fastest runners avoid having to pass too many slower runners during the race.

When the Race Happens

The marathon usually takes place in late May or early June. It is always held on a Saturday afternoon. This is different from many other big city marathons, like those in London or New York, which are usually on Sunday mornings. Holding it on a Saturday afternoon helps to cause less disruption to the city's normal activities.

Sometimes, this timing can mean the race happens on a very hot day. For example, in 2018, temperatures reached about 30 degrees Celsius in some parts of the course!

The 2020 race had to be cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 race was also delayed. It finally took place on Saturday, October 9th, instead of its usual time.

Marathon Winners

Here you can see the past winners of the Stockholm Marathon. The fastest times ever recorded for the course are highlighted in green. If a Swedish runner won, their running club is also mentioned.

      Course record

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